The world situation in terms of biodiversity is increasingly worrying. Biodiversity losses have become a reality for numerous years. Indeed, over the past hundred years, the major challenges faced by biodiversity include a growing demand for biological resources due to population growth leading to increased consumption. According to current estimations, rates of loss of species are 100 times faster than the natural rate of loss prior to significant human intervention. Balancing economic development and conservation of natural resources is crucial for future generations. About 7000 plant species have been cultivated and harvested for 12,000 years by humankind. Now, around 15 plant species and 8 animal species make up 90% of our food provision.
However, biodiversity not only includes all living organisms of the planet but also encompasses individuals and their functional relations. Thus, biodiversity goes beyond a mere review of individuals, rather, it refers to an interactive network where the characteristics of actors are as important as the linking up of their actions.

Biodiversity provides agricultural goods including food, wood and so forth. About one third of the land area in the world is used for food production. Similarly, the development of sustainable agricultural systems and practices contribute to the rehabilitation and maintenance of biodiversity.

Linkages between agriculture (cultivated systems) and biodiversity are very strong and deserve to be highlighted. Farmers need to identify how their activities relate to biodiversity and to promote practices that improve sustainability and reduce the impact of those which constitute a threat to biodiversity, while keeping on living out of their agricultural activity. This will help better understand the role of farmers and therefore, achieve a mindset change with respect to farmers’ rights’ and responsibilities in this regard.

The real challenge for farmers is to conserve biological diversity while generating decent income out of their activities. In other words, they have to adopt practices that achieve the management of agricultural ecosystems in a sustainable way. However, this requires the participation and support of other stakeholders in providing appropriate incentives to help farmers overcome this challenge.

Political will is key in taking actions to reconceptualize biodiversity so that it becomes an integral part of agriculture rather than an element in opposition. The real issue is about the identification of appropriate mechanisms in order to go beyond the production versus consumption dilemma and the reestablishment of the natural relationship between biodiversity and agriculture. Therefore, we should not segregate agriculture and biodiversity.